In a troubling development that has drawn national attention, the Kashmir Valley has reportedly surpassed Punjab — a state long associated with a severe drug menace — in certain metrics of narcotics abuse, particularly per capita opioid and heroin use. A 2022 study by the Psychiatry Department of Government Medical College, Srinagar, highlighted that Kashmir had overtaken Punjab in the prevalence of substance abuse cases, positioning the region as one of the hotspots for drug addiction in India, second only to parts of the North East.
Alarming Scale of the Problem
Official estimates paint a grim picture. A 2023 parliamentary report indicated that nearly 1.35 million people out of Jammu and Kashmir’s approximately 12–13 million population were affected by drug use — a sharp rise from earlier figures of around 350,000. More recent assessments suggest the number of drug users in J&K has climbed to around 1.3 million, with the figure nearly doubling or even tripling in the last three years in the Kashmir division.
In the Kashmir Valley specifically, surveys point to roughly 70,000 substance users across ten districts, of whom about 52,000 are intravenous heroin users. Other reports estimate over 67,000 drug abusers in the Valley, with 90% hooked on heroin. Ninety percent of users are young, aged between 17 and 33 years. Hospital data reinforces the urgency: one major Srinagar hospital recorded over 41,000 drug-related patients in 2023 alone — a 75% increase from 2021 — averaging one case every 12 minutes.
Government figures shared in the J&K Legislative Assembly in early 2026 revealed that 32,517 drug abuse patients had been registered across the Union Territory since 2022, with a significant share in the Kashmir division. Authorities have also acknowledged that the number of addicts in Kashmir has tripled in the past three years.
Comparison with Punjab
Punjab continues to battle a deep-rooted drug crisis, with estimates of several million users of various substances, including opioids, cannabis, and alcohol. The state has historically recorded high numbers of NDPS cases, seizures, and overdose deaths. However, per capita opioid prevalence and the rapid surge in heroin use among Kashmir’s youth have led experts and officials to note that Kashmir has pulled ahead in certain key indicators.
While Punjab’s problem is more entrenched across rural and border areas with a mix of traditional and synthetic drugs, Kashmir’s crisis shows a sharper recent escalation, driven heavily by injectable heroin.
Causes Behind the Surge
Several factors contribute to the crisis in Kashmir:
- Cross-border smuggling: Heroin is frequently trafficked across the Line of Control (LoC) or through alternative routes, sometimes described by officials as a form of “narco-terrorism” targeting the youth.
- Socio-political stress: Decades of conflict, political unrest, unemployment, and associated mental health challenges (including depression and trauma) have left many young people vulnerable. Many begin with cannabis or prescription drugs before progressing to harder substances.
- Supply networks: Local peddlers, combined with inflows from neighbouring states and across borders, sustain the availability.
The result is a devastating impact: destroyed families, lost productivity, rising HIV risks from needle sharing, overdoses, and a generation of youth at risk of being sidelined.
Government and Community Response
The J&K administration has intensified efforts, including increased NDPS cases, seizures of narcotics (over 4,400 kg reported in some periods), attachment of properties of peddlers, and expansion of de-addiction centres. Community awareness programmes, involvement of religious leaders, and plans for district-level surveys are also underway. As of early 2026, thousands of patients have received treatment and rehabilitation services.
However, many observers argue that the response needs to be more comprehensive — combining stricter supply-side enforcement with robust demand reduction through better mental health support, skill development, employment opportunities for youth, and accessible rehabilitation infrastructure.
A Shared Challenge, Not a Competition
The drug epidemic in Kashmir and Punjab is not a contest but a stark reminder of how substance abuse can rapidly erode societies under stress. Both regions face similar long-term threats: weakened social fabric, economic losses, and public health emergencies.
Addressing this crisis demands coordinated action at multiple levels — from sealing smuggling routes and disrupting networks to providing compassionate, evidence-based treatment and prevention focused on the youth. Without sustained and multi-pronged intervention, the human cost could escalate further, robbing future generations of their potential.
The situation calls for urgent attention, greater transparency in data, and collective resolve from government, civil society, and communities to reclaim the Valley — and other affected regions — from the grip of addiction.
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